Collapsible carriage.



G. S. SPOPFORD.

GOLLAPSIBLE CARRIAGE.

APPLICATION FILED 0q'1'.4. 1910.

1,125,756. Patented Jan.19, 1915.

3 SHEBTS-SHEET 1.

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0. S. SPOFPORD. GOLLAPSIBLE CARRIAGE.

APPLICATION FILED OUT. 4. 1910.

1,125,756. Patented Jan. 19, 1915.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

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G. S. SPOFPORD.

GOLLAPSIBLE CARRIAGE.

APPLICATION FILED 0014. 1910.

Patented Jan. 19, 1915,

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

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v to the rear terminating in spindles for onnrsrornnn STEELE SPOIEFORD, 0F STURGIS, MICHIGAN, ASSIG'NOR T0 STUBGIS STEEL GG-CAB'I COMPANY,

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0F STURG-IS, MICHIGAN.

GOLLAIPSIBLE CARRIAGE.

To all whom it may concern: 7

Be it known that I, CHRISTOPHER STEELE SPoFrorD, a citizen of the United States, residing at Sturgis, Michigan, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in. Collapsible Carriages, of which the following is a specification. v V

This invention relates to improvements in collapsible carriages. v

The main object of this invention is to provide in a collapsible carriage an improved spring seat and spring seat bac structure. I

Further objects, and objects relating to structural details, will definitely appear from the detailed description to follow.

I accomplish the objects of my invention by the devices and means described in the following specification.

The invention is clearly defined and point ed out in the claims. V

A structure which is a preferred embodiment of my invention, is clearly illustrated in the accompanying drawing, forming a part of this specification, in which:

Figure I is a side elevation of a structure 7 embodying the features of my invention, a portion of the handle being broken away. Fig. 11 is a rear elevation, a portion of the handle and a portion of one of the rear wheels being broken away. Fig. III is an inverted detail of the seat, showing the are rangement of the springs thereon. Fig. IV is a side elevation of my improved seat, in its collapsed position. Fig. V is a detail vertical section taken on a line corresponding to line 55 of Fig. 11, looking inithe direction of the little arrows at the ends of the section lines. V a Q In the drawings, similar numerals of reference refer to similar parts throughout the several views. j

Referring to the drawing, 1 represents-the running-gear frame, which, in'the structure illustrated, is formed of tubing bent into a U-shape. The handle 2 is pivotally secured end of the frame, at 3. On each side of the side bars of the running-gear frame are clip-like hangers 4 for the wheel supports 5. These wheel supports have downwardly projecting arms 6 at each end, the wheels ,7. A pair of levers 8 are pivoted on the running-gear frame at 9, with their lower ends projecting belowthe running-gear frame to Specification of Letters Eatent.

Patented Jan. 19,1215.

Application filed October 4., 1910. Serial No. 585,244.

engage the cam members 10 on the wheel supports 5. These levers-8 are connected to the handle 2 by the side bars 11, the side bars being pivoted to the handles at 12, and to the upperends of the levers by the pivots 13. The cam membersare not described in idetail, as they form no part of this inven- The wheel supports are braced and the levers 8 locked in their erected position, thereby locking the carriage in its erected position by a device comprising the brace 14, which is pivoted at 15 on the running-gear frame, the upper end of the brace being extended rearwardly beyond the pivot,.and the link 16, which is pivoted to one of the levers 8 and to the upper end of the brace. On the wheel supports are forked clips 17, adapted to receive the braces when the parts are erected- A lever 18 is pivoted at 18 on one of the brace members for releasing the lock and disengaging the brace. The details of this mechanism are not further described herein, as they form the subject-matter of my application for patent filed concurrently herewith. The forward ends of the wheel supports are also braced by the braces 19, which are pivoted on the running-gear frame and connected by the links 20 to the levers 8. The foot rest 21 is not described in detail herein as it forms no part of my present invention.

7 The seat 22 is supported by the $-shaped rear springs 23, one arm of each spring being secured to the seat and the other to the cross piece 30 on the running-gear frame. The forward end of the seat is supported by downwardly and forwardly-projecting arms 24:, which are in the form of blade-springs having a quarter twist therein, as shown at 25, the horizontally-disposed portions of the springs being secured to the bottom of the seat. as. by means of the screws 26, while the vertically-disposed portions of the springs are secured to the frame by means of the horizontallydisposed pivots 27. These front supporting members 24 are preferably arranged to diverge forwardly, as illustrated, so that they effectively brace and support the seat against lateral movement.

. To limit the rebound of the springs, and prevent their being overstrained or distorted by an undue strain, such as might result if the back were forcibly retained in its erected position when the automatic back collapsing is present, as shown, I provide a pair of rods.

28, which are preferably of wire, having eyes at their upper ends for the screws 29, their lower ends being arranged through holes provided therefor in the cross piece 30, the ends of the rods being turned laterally at 31. The back 32 is mounted on the seat and adapted to be swung forwardly thereon, as shown in Fig. V when the structure is collapsed. This is done automatically, but as the mechanism by which it is accomplished forms no part of this invention, I do not describe the same herein. The

back is adjustably mounted, asindicated by the dotted lines in Fig. I, so that it may be adjusted to a reclining position. When it is adjusted to this position, the weightof the child reclining in the carriage is thrown well to the rear. By this arrangement of spring described, the springs are very resilient, and are adapted for different weights, being sufficiently resilient for light weights, and, at the same time, capable of carrying heavier weights efiectively. Another advantage is that the springs are substantially noiseless. Further, the particular form of springs coact very efi'ectively,.that is, the -springs are not injuriously distortedby the downward and upward movements of the seat, in which the seat is moved backwardly and forwardly to a limited de gree. Further, the seat is effectively supported so that it has practically no lateral movement. The seat is not affected by the collapsing of the carriage otherwise than the collapsing of the back, as the handles swing down at the sides of the seat, as shown in Fig. IV.

I have illustrated and described my improvements in detail in the form in which I have embodied them in practice. I am aware, however, that my invention is capable of very great variations instructural details without departing from my inven:

piece and the other to said seat; substantially straight'blad e-like front springs secured to said seatto project downwardly and forwardly therefrom, said front springs having quarter twists therein, the upper horizontally-disposed portions of said springs being rigidly secured to said seat seat to project downwardly and rearwardly through said cross piece in proximity to said rear springs; and a handle pivoted to the rear ends of said frame side pieces and 7 adapted to fold down at the side of said seat when the frame is collapsed, said seat being supported independently ofsaid handle and said wheel support actuating means, said wheel support actuating means being operatively connected'to said handle. 7

2. In a folding carriage, the combination with the running-gear frame, comprising side pieces and a cross piece, of collapsible wheel supports; means for collapsing and erecting said wheel supports; a seat;-S-' shaped rear springs for said seat, one arm of each spring being secured to said cross piece and the other to said seat; substantially straight blade-like front springs secured to said seat to project downwardly and forwardly therefrom, said fi ont springs having quarter twiststherein, the upper horizontally-disposed portions of said springs being rigidly secured to said seat and the lower vertically-disposed portions being secured byhorizontally-disposed pivots to the side pieces of said running-gear frame; and a handle pivoted to the rear ends of said frame side pieces and adapted to fold down at the side of said seat when the frame is collapsed, said seat being supported independently of said handle andsaid wheel support actuating means, said wheel supportactuating means being operatively connected to said handle.

8. The combination with the running-gear frame, of a seat; S-shaped rear springs for said seat, one arm of each spring being connected to said frame and the other to said seat; substantially straight blade-like front springs secured; to said seat to project downwardly and forwardly therefrom, said front springs having quarter twists therein, the upper horizontally-disposed portions of said springs being rigidly secured to said seat and the lower vertically-disposed portions being secured by horizontally-disposed pivots to the side pieces of said running-gear frame. l

4:. The combination with'the running-gear frame, of a seat; S-shaped rear springs'for said seat, one arm of each spring being connected to said frame and the other to said seat; substantially straight front supporting springs secured to said seat to project forwardly therefrom, the rear ends of said springs being secured to said seat and their forward ends to said running gear frame; and a rod secured, to said seat to project obliquely downwardly and rearwardly and slidably engage said running-gear frame.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the said seat; and substantially straight forwardly projecting supporting arms of spring material for the forward end of said seat, the rear ends of said springs being secured to said seat, their forward ends being secured to said running-gear frame, all coacting for the purpose specified.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal in the presence of two witnesses.

CHRISTOPHER STEELE SPOEFORD.

Witnesses:

LUELLA G. GREENFIELD, MARGARET L. GLASGOW.

Washington, D. G.

Commissioner of Patents, 

